Fishing Regulations Survey Responses

Prepared by: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

2021-2022

SUMMER 2020

Contents Survey background ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Survey methods --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Participant demographics --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Survey questions and responses ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3

General questions and responses not related directly related to regulations ------------------------------------------ 4

Q1: What species do you prefer to target? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

Q2:How do you most often access fishing? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

Q3: What is the main type of gear used for fishing? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5

Q4: What type of waterbody do you fish at? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

Statewide regulation questions and responses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

Q5: Would you support or oppose changing the statewide daily limit to 3 fish? ------------------------------------------------ 6

Q6: Would you support or oppose a statewide change that allows the use of bait to catch crayfish on waters where

bait fishing is not allowed? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

Q7: Would you support or oppose changing the [northern pike] statewide daily limit to 20 fish? ------------------------- 7

Specific waterbody regulation questions and responses -------------------------------------------------------------------- 7

Q8: Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Daggett County: Would you support or oppose lowering the daily limit to 3

largemouth and smallmouth bass? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7

Q9: Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Daggett County: Would you support or oppose a limit increase to 4 kokanee salmon?8

Q10: Red Butte Creek, Salt Lake County: Would you support or oppose opening publicly accessible portions of Red

Butte Creek to fishing? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

Q11: Yuba Reservoir, Juab County: Would you support or oppose changing the northern pike limit to 20 fish? ------- 9

Q13: Fish Lake, Sevier County: Would you support or oppose adjusting the underwater spearfishing season at Fish

Lake to close on September 10? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10

Q14: Navajo Reservoir, Kane County: Would you support or oppose a 4-fish daily limit for each trout species (12

fish), with only one fish over 22 inches? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10

Q15: Starvation Reservoir, Duchesne County: Would you support or oppose a combined total of 4 trout and

kokanee salmon (4 total)? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11

Q16: Starvation Reservoir, Duchesne County: Would you support or oppose changing the daily limit to a combined

total of 20 panfish (a total of 20 bluegill, crappie or perch)? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 11

Q17: Moon Lake, Duchesne County:Would you support or oppose changing the limit to 4 trout and kokanee salmon

in combination (4 fish total)? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12

Q18: Pelican Lake, Uintah County: Would you support or oppose the daily limit changes listed below [multiple

options listed]? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12

Q19: Pelican Lake, Uintah County: Would you support or oppose a seasonal closure for bluegill at Pelican Lake? -- 13

Q20: Red Fleet Reservoir, Uintah County: Would you support or oppose a seasonal closure on underwater

spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13

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Q21: Red Fleet Reservoir, Uintah County: Would you support or oppose changing the daily limit to a combined total

of 50 panfish (a total of 50 bluegill, crappie or perch) with no more than 20 black crappie? ------------------------------ 14

Q22: West Fork Duchesne River, Duchesne and Wasatch counties: Would you support or oppose changing the dates

of the closure to run from January 1 through 6 a.m. on May 15? ----------------------------------------------------------------- 14

Q23: Wolf Creek, Duchesne and Wasatch Counties: Would you support or oppose changing the dates of the closure

to run from January 1 through 6 a.m. on May 15? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15

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Survey background The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is responsible for managing fisheries throughout the state of

Utah. This means biologists must strike a balance in handling the biological and social dynamics of the

resource. To best understand the social dynamics, the DWR needs to hear from all types of anglers. The DWR

surveys anglers to better understand who is using the state’s fisheries, how they are using those areas, and

how they feel about potential changes and issues at certain waterbodies. The fishery managers then use the

survey results to make informed decisions on setting regulations for the anglers. The regulations are an

important tool managers use to adjust and improve the state’s aquatic resources. This report summarizes the

public’s responses to the 2021-2022 fishing regulation survey.

Survey methods The DWR surveyed a stratified random sample of 13,333 emails connected to valid fishing licenses. The survey

was also shared on the DWR’s social media channels and the DWR website. We received 3,038 responses from

emails, 1,149 responses from the social media channels and 123 responses from the DWR website.

Participant demographics The email responses provide the best look at a random sample of Utah anglers, while the social media and

webpage provide a good look at Utah’s engaged and dedicated anglers. Both types of responses are important

to consider when determining new regulations. Below is a table that compares the different collectors used

for this survey.

Who responded to the 2021-2022 fishing regulations survey

Survey collector

Email Social media Website

Number of responses 3,038 1,149 123

Average age 47 38 52

Percent female 11 8 2

Percent that purchase a license every year 76% 86% 96%

Typical mode of accessing fishing shore (63%) shore (59%) boat (50%)

Survey questions and responses This survey effort had questions focused on three areas:

1. General preferences and fishing behaviors of the angler

2. Proposed statewide fishing regulations

3. Proposed regulations for specific waterbodies

The general questions were used to help understand basic preferences and, in some cases, to provide a better

assessment of a particular regulation proposal. For example, the wiper regulation change was looked at

specifically for anglers that target wipers.

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General questions and responses not related directly related to regulations

Q1: What species do you prefer to target? Anglers were asked to select all species that they target when they

go fishing.

Q2: How do you most often access fishing? Anglers were asked what percent of their fishing time is spent

using various access modes. The preferred access mode for each angler is represented below. The “equal split”

category includes anglers whose highest listed access mode equaled another access mode.

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Q3: What is the main type of gear used for fishing? Anglers were asked what percent of their time fishing was

spent using various types of gear. The preferred gear type for each angler is represented below. The “split”

category includes anglers whose highest listed gear type equaled another type.

Q4: What type of waterbody do you fish at? Anglers were asked what percent of time they spent at various

types of waterbodies. The preferred waterbody type for each angler is represented below. The “split” category

includes anglers whose highest listed waterbody type equaled another waterbody type.

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Statewide regulation questions and responses

Q5: Currently, the statewide regulation for wiper is a daily limit of 6 fish. Would you support or oppose changing the statewide daily limit to 3 fish?

Q6: Would you support or oppose a statewide change that allows the use of bait to catch crayfish—as long as you don’t use a hook—on waters where bait fishing is not allowed?

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Q7: Currently, the statewide daily limit for northern pike is 6 fish. Would you support or oppose changing the statewide daily limit to 20 fish?

Specific waterbody regulation questions and responses

Q8: Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Daggett County: Currently, the Utah regulation at Flaming Gorge Reservoir is 10 largemouth and smallmouth bass (as a combined total per day). Wyoming is considering a regulation change for largemouth and smallmouth bass for their portion of the reservoir. Would you support or oppose lowering the daily limit to 3 largemouth and smallmouth bass (as a combined total) to ensure a consistent bass regulation across the entire reservoir?

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Q9: Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Daggett County: Currently the reservoir-wide limit is 3 kokanee salmon. Utah and Wyoming are considering a limit increase to 4 kokanee salmon. Would you support or oppose this change to continue a consistent kokanee limit across the reservoir? This regulation would go in effect January 1, 2022 to coincide with Wyoming's regulation change date.

Q10: Red Butte Creek, Salt Lake County: Would you support or oppose opening publicly accessible portions of Red Butte Creek (downstream of the Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area) to fishing?

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Q11: Yuba Reservoir, Juab County: At Yuba Reservoir, you are currently allowed to harvest 20 northern pike with only one over 36 inches. Would you support or oppose changing the northern pike daily limit to 20 fish of any size?

Q12: Kens Lake, San Juan County: Would you support or oppose the removal of Kens Lake (San Juan County)

from the list of waters where underwater spearfishing is allowed?

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Q13: Fish Lake, Sevier County: Currently, underwater spearfishing at Fish Lake is open from the first Saturday in June through September 15. The statewide seasonal closure for the harvest of kokanee salmon begins on September 10. Would you support or oppose adjusting the underwater spearfishing season at Fish Lake to close on September 10 to ensure that kokanee salmon are not unintentionally harvested out of season?

Q14: Navajo Reservoir, Kane County: Currently, the daily limit at Navajo Lake is 4 splake, brook trout or tiger trout (a combined total of 4 fish) with only one fish over 22 inches. Fishery managers are considering a daily limit change to ensure consistency in trout regulations. Would you support or oppose a 4-fish daily limit for each trout species (12 fish), with only one fish over 22 inches?

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Q15: Starvation Reservoir, Duchesne County: Would you support or oppose changing the current daily limit of 4 trout and 4 kokanee salmon (8 total) to a combined total of 4 trout and kokanee salmon (4 total)?

Q16: Starvation Reservoir, Duchesne County: Currently, the daily limit at Starvation is 50 fish per panfish species (50 bluegill, 50 crappie, 50 perch, etc.). Fishery managers are considering a daily limit change to protect the reservoir’s prey base (primarily made up of panfish), which would also help the reservoir’s predator populations. Would you support or oppose changing the daily limit to a combined total of 20 panfish (a total of 20 bluegill, crappie or perch)?

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Q17: Moon Lake, Duchesne County: Would you support or oppose changing the current daily limit of 4 trout and 4 kokanee salmon (8 fish total) to 4 trout and kokanee salmon in combination (4 fish total)?

Q18: Pelican Lake, Uintah County: Pelican Lake was treated with rotenone in 2018 to remove carp. Since then, the DWR has been working to rebuild the bluegill population. The current daily limit for bluegill at Pelican Lake is 0 fish for the 2020 calendar year. The statewide daily limit for bluegill at other waters is 50 fish. Would you support or oppose the daily limit changes at Pelican Lake listed below?

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Q19: Pelican Lake, Uintah County: Would you support or oppose a seasonal closure for bluegill at Pelican Lake? (This would be to protect spawning fish.)

Q20: Red Fleet Reservoir, Uintah County: Would you support or oppose a seasonal closure (from April 1 through the fourth Saturday of June) on underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass at Red Fleet Reservoir?

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Q21: Red Fleet Reservoir, Uintah County: Currently, the daily limit at Red Fleet Reservoir is 50 fish per panfish species (50 bluegill, 50 crappie, 50 perch, etc.). Fishery managers are considering a daily limit change to protect the reservoir’s prey base (primarily made up of panfish), which would also help the reservoir’s predator populations. Would you support or oppose changing the daily limit to a combined total of 50 panfish (a total of 50 bluegill, crappie or perch) with no more than 20 black crappie?

Q22: West Fork Duchesne River, Duchesne and Wasatch counties: Currently, the river has a seasonal closure from January 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July. To provide additional angler access, would you support or oppose changing the dates of the closure to run from January 1 through 6 a.m. on May 15?

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Q23: Wolf Creek, Duchesne and Wasatch counties: Currently, the creek has a seasonal closure from January 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July. To provide additional angler access, would you support or oppose changing the dates of the closure to run from January 1 through 6 a.m. on May 15?